Product Focus on Insulation

Where does one start? How about right around 7,500 B.C. when individuals in Jordan began using a form of plaster on interior walls?

If you’ve ever purchased ready-to-assemble furniture at IKEA or if you’ve put together toys on Christmas Eve you have been involved with prefabricated products. 

The Coronavirus has caused many material shipments to be delayed or cancelled. As a result, the cost of ordering and supplying materials for many items has increased. 

The Fair Labor Standards Act was passed more than 80 years ago, and since then, the United States Department of Labor has struggled to define the term “independent contractor.” 

As 2020 drew to a close, the U.S. Congress passed the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021, a massive $900 million coronavirus relief bill combined with a $1.4 trillion omnibus spending bill.

In March 2021, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act. This legislation calls for wide-ranging, union-friendly revisions to the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA). 

Every business looks for opportunities to grow revenues, increase profitability, and boost market share.

As a college student in the early ’90s, Erik Santiago thought his construction degree would lead him to work for a general contractor.

How Florida lawmakers’ attempt to make property insurance more affordable could affect your business.

How an Italian immigrant and his wife started a specialty plastering company.

L.B. Hall Fireproofing, a minority- and women-owned fireproofing company located in Crystal Lake, Illinois, announced that Estefania Roa will become the company’s new CEO. In 2022, Roa became president and owner.

The value of the FCIA member, FM 4991-approved or UL-ULC qualified firestop contractor comes from the commitment to excellence. These important designations – FM 4991-Approved, UL-Qualified, ULC-Qualified and FCIA Member in Good Standing – are being recognized by 07 84 00 Firestopping specifications in many occupancies around the world.

October product focus on Firestopping/Fireproofing.

October product focus on Firestopping/Fireproofing.

What is the purpose of fire prevention construction? Read on to find out.

ClarkDietrich is giving framing contractors greater flexibility in leveraging the firestopping power of its BlazeFrame family of products with the introduction of BlazeFrame Tape.

Batteries are increasingly being used in a vast array of applications, from consumer products and micromobility devices, known as e-bikes and e-scooters, to electric vehicles and utility-grade energy storage systems. As use of these devices has grown, so too has the number of fire incidents associated with them.

Third-party contractor accreditation programs are required in specifications around the world. Special inspection agencies and their inspectors are required to demonstrate competence and relevant experience. This is demonstrated by passing a Firestop Exam.

Fireproofing works through a system of tests and instructions.

Once upon a time, long before there were ads for lawyers on every corner, television, radio station, billboard and listed on 72 pages of every phone book in the country, job-site practical jokes were commonplace.

Festool released the CSC SYS 50 cordless table saw in 2023 and wants to give customers an opportunity to test it out themselves. Tradespeople can test out the tool and share their product photos and video reviews with Festool and other colleagues in the industry.

Diversified Fall Protection has appointed Gabe Galvan as EBM design director. Galvan will play a key role in leveraging the company’s newly acquired California Scaffold Inspection and Testing license. This license permits DFP to offer inspection, testing and design services related to exterior building maintenance and other equipment within California.

Nearly all contractors in the U.S. and Canada (98 percent) have had projects with serious quality issues in the last three years, such as errors, omissions and rework, according to the latest study released by Dodge Construction Network.

Your wealth is at risk if you do not understand these myths.

The new bill that extends many tax provisions.

How to decrease taxes and increase savings to grow and protect the value of your business.

Ten sound business practices in preparing your company for a sale.

The new tax law could mean a boom for certain industries.

The Rainscreen Association in North America announced that Laverne Dalgleish, COO of RAiNA and executive director of the ABAA, will be presenting on water-resistive barriers, the last line of defense, at the RAiNA Conference in Chicago on Nov. 7.

The Rainscreen Association in North America announced that Graham Finch of RDH will be presenting on how and why rainscreen walls work or when they don’t at the RAiNA Conference in Chicago on Nov. 7.

SOPREMA celebrated the grand opening of its new state-of-the-art headquarters in Wadsworth, Ohio, in September. The event brought together key stakeholders to mark a significant milestone in the company’s commitment to sustainability, innovation and growth in the United States.

Sika has broken ground on a 29,000-square-foot admixture production plant, which is expected to be in operation in late-2025.

On Oct. 7, IIBEC sent a letter to the mayor and city council of Wilmington, North Carolina, recommending that they consider establishing a building façade inspection program in light of two recent building failures.

The Rainscreen Association in North America announced that Brian Nelson of Knight Wall Systems will be presenting on rocket science and understanding the modern cladding support system at the RAiNA Conference in Chicago on Nov. 7.

Resilience is a newer design concern within the construction industry. With the apparent increase in natural disasters, such as hurricanes and wildfires, the desire for more resilient buildings is on many people’s minds. However, what is resilience and how do gypsum panel products factor into this new way of thinking?

What is the difference between fire resistance ratings and flame-spread ratings? Can they be used interchangeably?

The American Concrete Institute announced its 2024-2025 president, vice president and four board members. Michael J. Paul has been elected to serve as president of the institute for 2024-2025 and Scott M. Anderson has been elected as ACI Vice President for a two-year term.

Cement production and processes emit over 5 percent of all carbon dioxide emitted by human activity. Reducing that environmental impact is a high priority among cement producers. Cement producers are now publishing their Environmental, Social and Governance credentials concerning energy use in their operations, greenhouse gas emissions and water usage.

The American Concrete Institute has released its 2024 collection of concrete codes, specifications and practices.

Registration for the American Concrete Institute’s 2024 Professors’ Workshop is now open. This year’s event will be held in three stages on July 15, 23 and 24.

The ACI Foundation’s Concrete Research Council selected eight research projects to receive grants this year.

The Portland Cement Association, representing America’s cement manufacturers, announced the winners of its Energy and Environment, Chairman’s Safety and Safety Innovation Awards at its 2024 Cement Fly-In in Washington, D.C.

Huntsman Corporation has named Doug Brady as president of Huntsman Building Solutions.

The Center for the Polyurethanes Industry announced on Sept. 9 the results of a two-year survey on the polyurethanes industry in the United States, Canada and Mexico.

Knauf has been awarded a $3.28 million grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to improve its Life Cycle Assessments and Environmental Product Declarations. The grant will allow Knauf to provide accurate and reliable information, helping industry professionals make informed, eco-friendly choices and contribute to a more sustainable built environment.

Barricade Building Products announced that its products will now be available at all Building Products Inc. locations throughout the Midwest. The expansion allows customers in the region to easily access Barricade’s comprehensive range of high-quality building materials, ensuring their projects are safeguarded from the ground up.

On Oct. 8, Holcim Group announced the acquisition of OX Engineered Products, a leader in residential wall insulation and sheathing. The acquisition further strengthens Holcim’s commitment to expanding its comprehensive building envelope solutions beyond roofing, providing customers with a broader range of high-performance materials for residential and commercial construction.

Barricade Building Products announced its partnership with BIMsmith, which will enable architects, engineers and designers to access Barricade’s extensive product information and seamlessly integrate it into their projects.